Page 18 of Highlander’s Lesser Evil

“Not tonight. Ye best return to yer wife if ye plan on enjoying yer wedding night.” He turned back to the water, and Theo could sense that he wanted to be left alone. He was here for more than the ring. Perhaps he was here to revel in the memories of his father.

What would life be like if he had a father who loved him? Or a mother who would stand up for him?

“Do they ever look at ye and wonder if ye will be just like Fletcher?” Theo asked.

“Fletcher isnae cruel. Not outright. But he is weak to his vices, and the land has paid the price for it. When they look at me, I fear they doonae see me at all. They have lived without a leader for too long. I doonae think they will know what it will be like to have one.”

So he had something to prove to them, and that made him a dangerous man.

“Enjoy yer time by the waters, with yer memories. Ye wilnae take Loch Moran from me.”

The man just grunted.

After leaving Graeme, he started back to the village and stared at the cottage that was Gemma’s. A candle flickered in the window. She would be waiting for him, and he most certainly wanted to go to her.

So why was he on this hill, staring at the outside of her home instead?

“Laird.”

Theo turned at the sound of Thomas’s voice and smiled faintly. “Ye of all people doonae need to call me that.”

“Theo, then.” With a faint grin, he walked up next to Theo and overlooked the village with him. “Ye are a married man. Ye will have an heir.”

Fatherhood. Theo’s gut twisted at the idea. “’Tis my duty.”

“She is an interesting lass. An English lass at the helm of the MacDougal clan will likely lead to yer father’s early death.”

“A welcome outcome.”

Thomas didn’t immediately reply. He, like Hamish, knew of Theo’s disgust at the idea of killing his father. Blood was still blood. His friend had once asked him if he would mourn his father once he was gone, and Theo couldn’t answer. It was his father, after all, but he had no good memories of the man—only a sense of loyalty through duty.

“Theo, why are ye not down there with yer wife?”

Sighing, Theo turned and thought of the letter that was still in his pocket. He’d married her, knowing that the letter was most likely forged. Graeme’s confirmation didn’t ease his conscience. Was he any better than his father? He hadn’t taken her by force, but had he manipulated her?

“There is still much to see to before I turn in for the night,” Theo said vaguely.

A good friend, Thomas bowed his head and grinned. “Then let me show ye the new formation that I have implemented to allow me to keep an eye on our blind spots.”

“That I would like to see.”

Gemma had resisted the ale, wanting a clear mind for what was to happen tonight, but when the last of the candle burned out, and the sky began to lighten, she drew the blanket around her shoulders and glared about her empty cottage.

“Fine way for a woman to spend her wedding night,” she grumbled. “Alone.”

Well, if she wanted to get any weaving done, she’d need at least a couple of hours of sleep, and she certainly wasn’t going to lose any simply because of something so trivial as a husband.

“A moronic husband,” she snarled. “Well, if he doesn’t want this, then I don’t want him.” Shoving a chair under the front door handle, she grinned with satisfaction and headed to bed. She’d barely closed her eyes for a moment when she felt the bed dip next to her.

With a shriek, she jumped up and grabbed the large knitting needle she kept by the bed. Before she could bury it in the unfortunate body next to her, Theo grabbed her hand.

“First ye put a chair under the door handle, and now ye mean to attack me?” he said as he plucked the needle from her hands. “Have ye changed yer mind about wanting a husband?”

“A husband usually joins his wife on their wedding night,” she growled as she jerked her hand back. Annoyed that he’d not only managed to get into her cottage but that he’d managed to do so without waking her, she turned her back on him. “Now if you will excuse me, I plan on getting some sleep.”

“An excellent idea.” Bending over, he started to remove his boots.

Furious, she turned back over. “You are not staying here.”